Antalya, Turkey, May 12, 2016. With Mother’s Day last weekend, Germany’s Karla Borger celebrated it a week later with her mom this week as the Antalya Open as she and partner Britta Büthe won their three pool play matches to earn a “bye” to the second-round of elimination in the US$150,000 FIVB World Tour.

Seeded second in the women’s Main Draw, Borger and Büthe claimed their third-straight Antalya Open Pool B win mid-day Thursday with a 2-0 (21-14, 21-18) in 36 minutes over previously-undefeated and 15th-seeded Taru Lahti and Riikka Lehtonen of Finland. In the only other match between the two teams, Lahti and Lehtonen posted a three-set pool play win over the Germans in Moscow last season.
One of 8 pool winners

Borger and Büthe were one of eight teams to win their group Thursday and advance to Friday’s three rounds of elimination bracket play. The second- and third-place finishers from each pool will also advance to Friday’s schedule where the afternoon quarter-final matches will set the line-up for the “final four” contests Saturday.

“It is great to have my mother here,” said Borger as she and Büthe defeated pairs from Germany and Turkey Wednesday during the opening pool play rounds. “She has meant so much to me and I am thrilled that she can enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Antalya along with watching us play.”
Mama was a champion

Cordula Borger is no newcomer to the sport of Volleyball. She currently works behind the scenes in Frankfurt with one of the top teams in Germany as all three of her children have played the sport with both sons being indoor players. “Mama” Borger’s resume also features a European continental championship with Beate Paetow in 1995 at St. Quay, France.

Karla’s mother also competed three seasons (1993-1995) on the FIVB World Tour with two different partners with “Mama” best placement being a seventh with Paetow at an October 1995 stop in Brisbane, Australia. “Mama” first international event was on Copacabana in 1993 with Tina Klappenbach as the pair placed ninth.

“Yes, I would love to return to Copacabana with Karla playing in the Rio Olympics,” said the beaming mother after her daughter’s match with Finland. “Right now, I don’t do any coaching. I am there for support when she needs it.”
Support

Mama’s support was especially beneficial for Karla after she injured her back last July at the Japanese Grand Slam in Yokohama and attempted to play the next week in the European Championships at Klagenfurt, Austria. The injury resulted in surgery and the younger Borger returned playing on the FIVB World Tour at the end of February.

“It was tough to see her in pain,” said “Mama”, “especially during qualifying for the Olympics. She is really a strong person and really dedicated to being successful. I admire her toughness and courage as she worked through the rehab period with her back. So far, so good with the recovery. I hope she continues and makes it to Rio. It will be great to see her playing there where I first played an international Beach Volleyball event.”

The Antalya Open also features men’s competition with pool play matches Thursday and Friday. After Saturday’s quarter-finals, the men’s semi-finals and medal contests will be played Sunday. The winning teams in the Antalya Open will share the $11,000 first-place prizes.